Feed device for the automatic shifting of objects by means of a guide element, construction set, and method for mounting a feed device

ABSTRACT

A feed device for the automatic shifting of objects is provided. The automatic shifting of objects is effected assisted by the force of gravity and/or for this purpose the feed device includes a driven feed unit in order to shift several objects, which are arranged one behind another on a display area of the feed device, along a guide track in the direction of a removal region where an object is able to be removed as intended. The feed device comprises at least one separately produced guide element which is mounted on the already functional feed device and comprises an elongated sliding surface which extends substantially parallel to the guide track, defines at least part of the display area and along which the objects to be shifted are shiftable by the feed unit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a National Phase Patent Application of International Patent Application Number PCT/EP2014/075197, filed on Nov. 20, 2014, which claims priority of German Utility Model Application Number 20 2013 105 284.1, filed on Nov. 21, 2013 and of German Patent Application Number 10 2014 201 661.4, filed on Jan. 30, 2014.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a feed device as well as to a construction set and to a method for mounting a feed device.

Feed devices for the automated shifting of objects, in particular products or product packagings, on a display area or a shelf hook for example of a shelf insert are used above all in the retail sector. For reasons of clarity of overview, products offered for sale here are usually arranged in rows one behind another. In order to prevent a gap being permanently formed by a sold or removed product, the products or product packagings are automatically shifted forward supported by the force of gravity on account of the display area being in an inclined position and/or feed units in the form of product feeds are used. Said feed units are arranged in the majority of cases behind the last product in the row and are provided with a drive, which comprises, for example, a tensioned and wound flat spiral spring, such that once a product has been removed, the gap created is closed again as a result of advancing the following products.

In particular when using these types of feed devices with driven feed units in the retail sector, particular attention is focused on securing the respective products against theft along with the attractive presentation of the individual products. In this case, it is known on the one hand to monitor the removal of products electronically and to conclude by way of an atypical removal frequency—if for example a plurality of objects are removed within an extremely short period—that there is a possible theft attempt.

Up to now, commercially available feed devices are regularly only suitable for light products such as, for example, cigarettes or razor blades, which are shifted to a front edge of the respective shelf by a feed unit. These types of devices enjoy more and more popularity as they can give the impression of fully stocked shelves without employees having to pull the products forward manually. In addition, shelves with such feed devices are able to be arranged closely one above another as no access area for pulling forward the products has to be kept above the respective products.

In practice, however, feed devices known up to now fail when the objects to be shifted are heavier and/or larger and in particular are circular cylindrical in form, as is the case, for example, with (beverage) bottles. Thus, it is observed here, for example, that when the product is shifted, in particular by a feed unit, it is shifted laterally and is pressed against a lateral product divider such that said product divider is shifted. As an alternative to this, it is certainly known to provide inclined roller rods, by means of which the respective product is conveyed by gravitational force to the front edge of a shelf. However, said inclined roller rods require increased space. In addition, these types of systems with roller rods are comparatively complex and expensive.

A feed device is combined with roller rods in U.S. Pat. No. 7,497,342 B2 or U.S. Pat. No. 7,628,282 B2. The achievement of the feed device is to be that products standing behind are easily fed and a removal gap created is automatically closed even in the case of larger and heavier products without the inclined position of the shelf supporting the roller rods and in the case of removal of the frontmost product of a row. However, the use of roller rods currently focused on is regularly linked with comparatively high costs and unwanted noises when feeding the products.

SUMMARY

Proceeding from here, the object underlying the present invention is to improve a feed device for shifting objects assisted by the force of gravity and/or with a driven feed unit in a simple and cost-efficient manner such that it is also able to shift heavier and/or larger as well as more unwieldy objects in a reliable manner.

Said object is achieved with the feed device as described herein and with the construction set as described herein as well as with the mounting method as described herein.

The starting point in this connection in each case is a feed device for the automatic shifting of objects, in particular products or product packagings, wherein the automatic shifting of objects is effected in the feed device assisted by the force of gravity and/or the feed device includes a driven feed unit, usually in the form of a product pusher, in order to shift several objects, which are arranged one behind another on a display area of the feed device, along a guide track in the direction of a removal region where an object is able to be removed as intended. A removal region is usually realized in this connection on a front edge of a shelf such that a frontmost object is easily able to be removed by a potential purchaser.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided at least one separately produced guide element which is mounted on the already functional feed device and comprises an elongated sliding surface which extends substantially parallel to the guide track, defines at least part of the display area and along which the objects to be shifted are shiftable by the feed unit. Consequently, a pre-assembled guide element is provided which is simply combinable with the feed device as an option in order to expand the feed device by the at least one guide element and, where required, to be able to adapt the display area in a simple manner for a specific use.

By the provided guide element being realized and provided during its use to define, by means of its sliding surface, at least part of the display area on which the objects to be shifted are arranged and along which they are shifted, the static and sliding friction created in operation can easily be varied depending on the application by means of the material of the guide element. Thus, the functional feed device with the driven feed unit, for example without using a guide element, is able to produce a sufficient moving force for a specific first type of objects to be shifted which, in each case, individually, do not exceed a certain maximum weight and/or a maximum size. By using a guide element with a particularly smooth surface, said same feed device can be further developed according to the invention such that by means of said guide element it is possible to shift a second type of objects which in each case comprise a heavier weight and/or are larger. The moving force applied by the feed unit does not, in contrast, have to be adapted and in particular not increased. The feed device and the at least one guide element are consequently preferably realized such that the feed device is fully functional even without the guide element, but, where required, is able to be equipped with the guide element. In this connection, it can also be provided that several different guide elements are selected depending on the requirement and are mountable on the feed device.

A sliding surface is realized on the guide element preferably as a result of a smooth surface. This means that the sliding surface is realized in such a manner that a coefficient of friction for the objects arranged on the sliding surface is less than 0.5 and preferably less than 0.4. In one realization variant, a coefficient of friction of less than 0.25 can be achieved with the sliding surface of the guide element.

In this connection, it obviously depends on the intended use of the feed device and in particular on the packaging or exterior material of the objects to be shifted as to which coefficient of friction is able to be achieved with the guide element. For example, the material for the sliding surface of the guide element is chosen such that the previously specified ranges for a coefficient of friction are achieved in the case of (metal) cans, bottles made from glass or bottles made from plastics material (in particular PET) which are to be shifted. In one realization variant, good sliding friction characteristics have been achieved for example with a sliding surface produced from polyacetal (also called polyoxymethylene, POM in short) and this was in particular in the case of a feed device for glass and plastic bottles.

In a further development, the guide element comprises at least two sliding surfaces as part of one common display area, which sliding surfaces are separated from one another by at least one recess, for example in the form of an elongated slot. As an alternative to this or in addition to it, two sliding surfaces, which are spatially separated by a recess and in each case form part of two different display areas, can be provided on one guide element. For example on two sides of a lateral wall, by means of which two shelf compartments each with a feed device are separated from one another, such a guide element consequently forms in each case a sliding surface along which objects are shiftable with little friction.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, which is easily combinable with the first-mentioned aspect, at least one guide element is provided in a feed device, along which the objects to be shifted are shiftable and which comprises at least one elongated sliding surface which extends substantially parallel to the guide track and defines at least part of the display area. In this case, the at least one sliding surface is arched in a convex manner and/or is realized such that an object arranged as intended thereon is able to abut simply in a punctiform or linear manner against at least one portion of the sliding surface.

By the objects to be shifted being shifted along a convexly arched sliding surface, the contact surface on the guide element for the objects to be shifted is minimized. The static and sliding friction is consequently reduced by a correspondingly realized guide element and a feed device with a feed device can also be utilized for shifting larger and heavier objects without a greater moving force having had to be applied for this purpose.

The same applies in principle to a sliding surface which only enables linear or punctiform contact with the object to be shifted. In this connection, at least part of the sliding surface can be defined by at least one tooth-shaped projection or by at least one projecting edge of the guide element. In one exemplary embodiment, the guide element forms, on its top surface facing the objects to be shifted, several rows of teeth which are arranged side by side and behind one another and with their tips define a sliding surface on which the objects to be shifted are placed. In this connection, the tips of said teeth can also be realized in a rounded manner in particular in accordance with the manufacturing method.

The teeth of a guide element are preferably spaced and arranged apart from one another such that an object is not able to enter into a gap between the teeth and tilt as a result. For example, individual adjacent teeth can be arranged correspondingly offset to one another for this purpose.

Projections to realize a sliding surface with substantially simply punctiform or linear contact with an object arranged thereon can also be triangular or trapezoidal in cross section. Linear contact is provided in particular in this connection, whenever the width of the sliding surface provided by the projection is less than or equal to 1/10, 1/15 or 1/20 of the width of a (bottom) surface of the objects to be positioned as intended on said sliding surface.

A convexly arched sliding surface can be realized, for example, by a circular cylindrical portion of a guide element.

In preferred realization variants the guide element is realized in an elongated, e.g. rod-shaped, manner, in particular as a sliding and/or round rod. In this way, the guide element can preferably extend along almost the entire movement path which the feed unit would cover if all the objects had been removed from a fully equipped feed device. In this way, the static and sliding friction acting along the guide track is easily able to be adapted to the respective application by the guide element and, where required, modified—by removing and/or exchanging the guide element.

In one realization variant, a guide element is realized on a lateral wall of the feed device. In this way, a product separator or compartment divider, which is subsequently mounted, for example, onto the already functional feed device, can incorporate the guide element.

As an alternative to this, the guide element can comprise a holder for supporting a lateral wall of the feed device. Such a guide element consequently realizes not only part of the display area with good or improved sliding characteristics—compared to feed devices that have been usual up to now—but also incorporates another additional function by a lateral wall, e.g. as product separator or compartment divider, being held thereon. In one exemplary embodiment, a holder of the guide element comprises a retaining slot and at least one support portion which adjoins said retaining slot. The lateral wall is held in the retaining slot and is supported transversely to its longitudinal extension by means of the support portion which adjoins thereto such that the support portion counters in particular a sagging of the wall.

The guide element can be produced in particular in the aforementioned realization variant but also in other realization variants in the form of a profile rail and/or as a result of extrusion.

In order to simplify the mounting of the guide element and, where applicable, the exchange thereof, the guide element can be plugged into the feed device and/or mounted in a tool-free manner. In said context, the guide element can be pluggable, for example, in a tool-free manner into the already functional feed device in order to adapt the geometry of the display area to the desired application and/or to adapt the roughness of the display area along which the objects have to be shifted. For example, there is provided at least one separate retaining element into which the guide element is plugged and by means of which the guide element is held on a component of the feed device.

As an alternative to this or as an addition to it, the guide element can itself realize at least one retaining element by means of which the guide element is held on a component of the feed device. For connecting the guide element to a component of the feed device, in this case a retaining element realized thereon is obviously able to be combined with a separate retaining element which is, e.g., plugged therein. For example, a retaining element realized on the guide element can be formed on a bottom surface of the guide element as a spigot, by means of which the guide element is connectable in a positive locking manner to a component of the feed device, e.g. to a lateral wall, to a support component for a lateral wall or to a housing of the feed device on which the feed unit is displaceably mounted.

A support component is to be understood in this connection as a component which supports a lateral wall transversely to its longitudinal extension and consequently regularly transversely to the guide track for the objects to be shifted. The support component consequently counters a sagging of the lateral wall. Frequently, such a support component also additionally prevents the lateral wall being displaced in an unwanted manner transversely to its longitudinal extension in particular by the feed unit and by the products to be shifted by it. For this purpose, such a support component, which is then usually realized in the form of a profile rail, is fastened on an end face on a front and/or rear mounting strip of a store shelf.

In a further development, once again the retaining element itself can be plugged into a component of the already functional feed device in order to hold the subsequently mounted guide element thereon. This type of retaining element can consequently comprise, for example, two portions which are separated spatially from one another in order, on the one hand, to be able to insert the guide element into the retaining element and, on the other hand, to be able to insert the retaining element with the guide element already secured thereon into a component of the already pre-assembled and fully functional feed device.

In one realization variant, the guide element is fastened on a lateral wall of the feed device. A lateral wall can border a row of objects to be shifted transversely to the guide track and can separate a row of objects to be shifted, for example, from an adjacent row inside the shelf thereof. A lateral wall can be formed accordingly, for example, by a commercially available product separator or compartment divider.

In one exemplary embodiment, there are provided at least two subsequently mountable guide elements and/or in each case guide elements which define a sliding surface which is arched convexly in cross section, between which a path of movement for the feed unit extends. In a realization variant of this type, for example two guide elements are mounted on the feed device in an elongated manner and substantially parallel to one another such that the movement path of the feed unit extends centrally between said guide elements. The objects to be shifted consequently rest on sliding surfaces of outside guide elements—with reference to the movement path of the feed unit—, whilst the feed unit applies its moving force substantially centrally onto the respectively rearmost object in the row for shifting the objects.

A feed device can also comprise at least two guide elements on one and the same side next to a path of movement for the feed unit. In this case, the guide elements can be arranged in particular in rows end to end and/or can be connected together. A connection between the at least two guide elements can then be realized here by means of at least one additional retaining element.

In a further development, in each case at least two guide elements are provided on both sides of the movement path for the feed unit. Thus, in one variant in each case one pair of guide elements (identical or different to one another) is arranged on the right and on the left of the movement path. A pair of guide elements can be connected together in this connection by at least one separately mountable additional retaining element. In this connection, by means of an additional retaining element a further guide element can be fastened on a guide element that is already arranged on one side of the movement path and, as a result, a further guide element is able to be retro-fitted where required.

An additional retaining element is preferably realized such that a guide element is pluggable, in particular clippable, therein and/or in reverse the additional retaining element is pluggable, in particular clippable, into a guide element. In one realization variant, the additional retaining element is realized in the manner of a preferably symmetrical double clip with two retaining portions, which are located side by side and are connected together by means of a web, each for one guide element.

The guide element comprises, for example, a retrofittable sliding and/or round rod which realizes a sliding surface on its outer lateral surface. The round rod, in this case, can be produced from a plastics material and/or from a metal material.

A further aspect of the present invention is the provision of a construction set for the mounting of a feed device, in particular for a feed device according to the first and/or second aspect of the present invention.

A construction set according to the invention includes, in this case, at least one pre-assembled feed module which defines the guide track and/or comprises the driven feed unit, and at least one separately produced guide element which is combinable with the feed module in such a manner that in a selective manner a feed device without a guide element or a feed device with a guide element is mountable. In this case, the guide element comprises at least one elongated sliding surface which extends substantially parallel to the guide track and defines at least part of the display area and along which the objects to be shifted are shiftable, e.g. as a result of the force of gravity and/or as a result of the feed unit, when the guide element is combined with the feed module.

By means of a construction set according to the invention, different types of feed devices are consequently producible in a simple manner, at least one feed device without a guide element (type A) and one feed device with at least one guide element (type B). By providing guide elements which are developed differently geometrically and/or comprise variously smooth surfaces for providing a sliding surface, it is also possible to produce more than two types of feed devices using one construction set according to the invention.

In this case, it can be provided that the feed module already comprises a display area against which, in the case of a feed device without a guide element, objects abut and are slidingly shifted, and the construction set with the at least one guide element is realized in such a manner that in the case of a feed device with a guide element the objects abut against the guide element and are shifted thereon (and no longer on the display area of the feed module). In this manner, the feed module with its (incorporated) display area can be realized and provided, for example, for the shifting of lighter objects, such as cigarette packagings or cosmetic items. For the shifting of heavier and larger objects, such as, for example, (beverage) bottles, the feed module is combined with at least one guide element, by means of which the resistance force countering shifting is reduced when the objects to be shifted are arranged thereon. In this way, the same feed module is able to be utilized for the shifting of variously heavy objects without a drive of the feed unit having had to be modified for this purpose. The maximum shifting force appliable by the feed unit remains unchanged. As a result of the chosen modular approach, feed devices for different applications are able to be provided by simply combining a feed module with different guide elements which, in each case, define a display area for the objects to be shifted.

In one realization variant, the construction set additionally comprises at least one lateral wall, by means of which a row of objects arranged on the display area is bordered along the guide track. The guide element is then preferably mountable on said lateral wall where required.

In addition, it can be advantageous when the construction set comprises at least one mounting strip on which several feed devices are securable next to one another, and in each case at least part of the components of the construction set for one single feed device is pluggable into the mounting strip. In this way, several feed devices with or without a guiding element are able to be plugged together in a tool-free manner on a mounting strip or on several mounting strips as a result of a construction set. In this connection, in particular a guide element can be pluggable, preferably clippable, onto a mounting strip or several mounting strips. This is not only cost-efficient, but also simplifies delivery and assembly of the individual feed devices. Thus, for example, several feed devices for one shelf can be mounted on site as a result of a construction set.

A further aspect of the present invention relates to a method for mounting a feed device. In this connection, proceeding from the basic concepts explained previously, a pre-assembled feed module, which defines the guide track and/or comprises a driven feed unit, and at least one separately produced guide element are provided. Within the framework of the mounting method according to the invention, now optionally,

-   -   a feed device without a guide element is mounted or     -   a feed device with a guide element is mounted by the guide         element being combined with the feed module, wherein the guide         element then comprises at least one elongated sliding surface         which extends substantially parallel to the guide track, defines         part of the display area in the feed device and along which the         objects to be shifted are shiftable on the guide element.

It is also provided here consequently that different types of feed devices are provided on the basis of one individual feed module by said already fully functional feed module including the drive for the feed unit being combined, where required, with at least one guide element or a set of different guide elements (different types of guide element). In the case of several guide elements which are each combinable with the feed module, in dependence on which guide elements or types of guide element are used, different resistance forces and in particular friction forces preferably counter a shifting of objects which are arranged thereon.

A further aspect of the present invention resides in the use of a support component as a guide element for a feed device—said support component preferably being separately produced and mountable on a lateral wall of a feed device. In this connection, the support component originally simply serves for supporting a lateral wall which is provided for separating two compartments of one store shelf. A support component used as a guide element once again additionally defines part of the display area such that the objects to be shifted are to be arranged as intended at least in part on the support component and are shiftable along the support component by the feed unit. Thus, it is certainly already known to connect product separators or compartment dividers to feed devices by way of additional support components, usually in the form of flat profile rails, in order to prevent them sagging or being shifted sideways by the objects to be shifted. However, up to now portions of said profile rails are not utilized for the purpose of defining part of the display area on which the objects are positioned and along which the objects are to be shifted. If said profile rails, however, are produced, for example, from a suitable plastics material or are modified in a corresponding manner such that they comprise sliding surfaces, they can also be utilized to provide part of the display area.

In the case of a feed device according to the invention, it is obviously possible for said feed device to comprise alerting means in order to detect a removal frequency of objects removed from the removal region and in the case of atypical removal patterns, such as, for example, described in WO 2006/061 009 A1, to conclude that shoplifting has occurred. As an alternative to or in addition to such electronic alerting means, a feed device according to the invention can obviously also be provided with electronic stocktaking means in order to determine the stock of objects still located on a display area and, for example, to transfer this to a central computer-supported registering means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further advantages and features of the present invention will become clear in the following description of exemplary embodiments by way of the figures:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a feed device from the prior art.

FIG. 2 shows a first realization variant of a feed device according to the invention which has been assembled from a construction set according to the invention and according to a method according to the invention.

FIG. 3A shows a guide element from the feed device in FIG. 2 with a retaining element for fastening the guide element, in an enlarged scale.

FIG. 3B shows an alternative exemplary embodiment for a retaining element, in an enlarged scale.

FIG. 3C shows a perspective view of parts of a further exemplary embodiment of a feed device, with two guide elements which are mounted on different longitudinal sides of a module housing.

FIG. 4 shows an exemplary embodiment for an additional retaining element for connecting a pair of guide elements in the form of round rods, in an enlarged scale.

FIG. 5 shows a representation of a detail of a guide element for a further realization variant where the guide element incorporates a holder for a lateral wall of the feed device.

FIG. 6 shows a representation of a detail of a support component in the form of a profile rail for the lateral wall of a further realization variant where guide elements are mounted subsequently onto the profile rail.

FIGS. 7A-7B show a representation of a detail of two further variants of a guide element with a holder for a lateral wall and two convex sliding surfaces.

FIGS. 8A-8B show a representation of a detail of two further variants of a guide element with a holder for a lateral wall and sliding surfaces which are formed by edges of a concavely arched portion.

FIGS. 9A-9B show a representation of a detail of two further variants of a guide element with a holder for a lateral wall and sliding surfaces which are formed by tooth-shaped projections.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a feed device V* from the prior art where a feed module in the form of a product pusher module 1* is fitted onto two mounting strips L1 and L2 which extend parallel to one another. Several feed devices V* can be arranged side by side in a simple manner by means of the mounting strips L1 and L2. In this case, a feed unit, which is provided in each case on a feed device V*, in the form of a product pusher 2* shifts objects, such as products or product packagings, which are arranged one behind another, in a shifting direction X in each case to a removal region E on the front edge of a shelf.

The product pusher module 1* defines a display area 10* on which the product pusher 2* is guided so as to be longitudinally shiftable along a guide 12*. Products or product packagings arranged on the display area 10* can thus be shifted automatically in the direction of the removal region E by the product pusher 2* as soon as a frontmost product or product packaging is removed. The product pusher 2* is driven in the present case by means of a drive element in the form of a leaf spring 3*. The leaf spring 3* pulls the product pusher 2* in the direction of the removal region E. An alternative drive element can, however, obviously also be provided in place of the leaf spring 3* in order to move the product pusher 2* automatically in the direction of displacement X as soon as a frontmost product or product packaging is removed from the display area 10*. In this way, gaps created as a result of products or product packagings being removed are automatically closed by the product pusher 2* and there is always a product or product packaging ready for removal in the removal region E.

The display area 10* is bordered at the side by a lateral wall 11 a* which extends in a substantially perpendicular manner with respect to said display area. Said lateral wall 11 a* separates a row of products or product packagings, which are arranged so as to be shiftable on the display area 10*, from adjacent products or product packagings.

In order to prevent a frontmost product or product packaging being pressed out of the removal region E by the product pusher 2*, a stop element which is not shown in FIG. 1 is provided. Said stop element, which functions as a stopper, can be plugged into fastening openings 13* in the display area 10*.

Although the feed device V* shown in FIG. 1 is particularly well suited for the shifting of products or product packagings arranged one behind another and is distinguished by a cost-efficient and reliable method of operation, it can be disadvantageous in the case of certain applications. Thus, it has been shown that precisely for the shifting of larger and heavier objects, such as, for example, beverage bottles, error-free shifting when a frontmost object is removed from the removal region E is not easily possible. The product pusher 2* cooperating with the rearmost object does not necessarily apply the necessary shifting force such that, where applicable, the drive of the product pusher 2* has to be modified. In addition, the shifting force can be diverted to the side, in particular in the case of beverage bottles with circular cylindrical geometry. Once the frontmost beverage bottle has been removed, following beverage bottles are then not shifted to the front edge of the shelf, but are possibly pressed against the lateral wall 11 a*.

Said disadvantages are avoided with the development according to the invention of a feed device as is shown as an example in FIG. 2.

In this connection, FIG. 2 shows a feed device V2 where a product pusher module 1 which is already functional per se, which is provided with separately mountable lateral walls 11 a and 11 b, has been supplemented with two additional guide elements in the form of round rods 6 a and 6 b. In this connection, the product pusher module 1 is designed for the shifting of lighter products or product packagings, such as, for example, cigarette boxes or cosmetic items. As a result of the supplemented round rods 6 a and 6 b, multiple heavier objects arranged one behind another, such as, for example, beverage bottles, are however also automatically shiftable using said product pusher module.

The product pusher module 1 includes a module housing 12 on which a product pusher 2 is mounted so as to be longitudinally displaceable. A drive of the product pusher 2 can also include here, for example, a leaf spring (not shown in FIG. 2). The module housing 12 defines on its top surface, along which the product pusher 2 is shifted, a display area 10, on which objects, in particular products or product packagings, are able to be arranged one behind another. By means of the driven product pusher 2, a row of products or product packagings is shifted in the direction of a removal region E which is delimited by a stop element 130 as soon as a frontmost product or product packaging has been removed from the removal region E. In order to ensure, in this connection, in particular, that the products or product packagings arranged one behind another are shifted in a straight line, the product pusher module 1 is supplemented by the two oppositely located lateral walls 11 a and 11 b. The product pusher module 1 consequently extends between said two lateral walls 11 a and 11 b such that products or product packagings which are arranged on the display area 10 are bordered at the sides in each case by a lateral wall 11 a or 11 b.

The two lateral walls 11 a and 11 b, in the present case, are formed by commercially available product separators and are in each case fixed at a front and at a rear end on a mounting strip L1 or L2 by means of one fastening element each in the form of a fastening clip 111 or 112. The two mounting strips L1 and L2, in this connection, extend parallel to one another such that the lateral walls 11 a and 11 b as well as a shifting path of the product pusher extend perpendicular to the two mounting strips L1 and L2. In addition, the product pusher module 1 is also clipped at a front end face on the mounting strip L2 and at a rear end face on the mounting strip L1.

A circuit board 4 is additionally provided inside the module housing 12. For example, an individual removal as well as a removal frequency is detectable electronically by means of said circuit board 4. As a result of said circuit board, it is possible to indicate, for example acoustically or visually, a removal and/or when an atypical removal frequency is detected—e.g. a removal of many products in a short period—to indicate possible shoplifting and to trigger a warning signal.

In order also to be able to shift larger and heavier objects, such as, e.g., beverage bottles, reliably in the direction of the stop element 130 in the present case using the product pusher module 1 without adapting the drive and the product pusher 2, the feed device V2 comprises the two round rods 6 a and 6 b which extend parallel to one another. The two round rods 6 a and 6 b, in this case, are arranged such that the product pusher module 1 with the product pusher 2 extends centrally between them. The individual round rods 6 a and 6 b, in the present case, are produced from a plastics material and comprise a comparably smooth outer lateral surface such that, for example when there is contact with a beverage bottle made of glass or plastics material, e.g. a PET beverage bottle, there is a clearly smaller coefficient of friction than between the beverage bottle and the display area 10. A corresponding coefficient of friction is preferably less than 0.4 or even less than 0.25. In this way, a beverage bottle is able to be shifted in a smooth-running manner along the longitudinal axis of a round rod 6 a or 6 b. The round rods 6 a, 6 b, in the present case, are realized in each case as solid forms and as sliding rods with a circular cross section. To reduce material and weight, these could, however, also obviously be realized in a hollow manner.

The round rods 6 a and 6 b, in the present case, are inserted into a recess or gap provided on the feed device V2 for this purpose between a lateral wall 11 a or 11 b and the product pusher module 1. As an alternative to this, a suitable channel-shaped recess can be realized as a bearing point for a guide element on the module housing 12, preferably on the top surface thereof, into which, where required, a guide element, such as, e.g., a round rod 6 a or 6 b, is able to be inserted.

The round rods 6 a and 6 b are dimensioned and arranged in the feed device V2 in such a manner that they project with their outer lateral surface beyond the display area 10 of the product pusher module 1. The round rods 6 a and 6 b are consequently realized and arranged here such that they define in the feed device V2 a display area which is raised compared to the display area 10 of the product pusher module 1. In this way, an object placed in the feed device V2 no longer abuts frictionally against the display area 10, but only just rests on the lateral surfaces, realized as sliding surfaces 600, of the round rods 6 a and 6 b. An object placed in the feed device V2 consequently rests by way of its bottom surface on the round rods 6 a and 6 b, but not on the display area 10. A shifting force applied by the product pusher 2 consequently also easily suffices to shift heavier objects, such as, e.g., (beverage) bottles produced from glass or plastics material. The respective object or a row of objects arranged one behind another is easily shiftable by the product pusher 2 in the direction of the removal region E even if the objects clearly weigh more individually, e.g. between 0.5 and 1.5 kg. The outer lateral surface of the circular cylindrical round rods 6 a and 6 b consequently forms in each case a sliding surface 600, along which objects placed in the feed device V2 are able to be shifted at sliding friction which is clearly reduced compared to the display area 10 of the product pusher module 1.

The round rods 6 a and 6 b are also clipped onto the feed device V2 in a simple manner in said realization variant. As can be seen in the enlarged representation in FIG. 3A in conjunction with FIG. 2, retaining elements are provided here in the form of separately mountable retaining clips 62.1 and 62.2 in order to fasten and retain the round rods 6 a and 6 b on, in each case, one lateral wall 11 a or 11 b. A retaining clip 62.1 or 62.2 comprises in this connection in each case a retaining portion 620 which is semi-circular in cross section and into which a round rod 6 a or 6 b is able to be clipped.

Fixing or connecting to the respective lateral wall 11 a or 11 b is effected on a web-like fastening portion 621 which is connected to said retaining portion 620 for the respective round rod 6 a or 6 b. In this connection, it can be provided that the fastening portion 621 is plugged into a recess on the bottom surface of the respective lateral wall 11 a or 11 b. As an alternative to this, the fastening portion 621 can be formed on an inside surface of the respective lateral wall 11 a or 11 b facing the product pusher module 1 such that each lateral wall 11 a or 11 b realizes the retaining clips 62.1, 62.2 and, where required, a round rod 6 a or 6 b is able to be clipped onto the respective lateral wall 11 a or 11 b.

The retaining clips 62.1 and 62.2 are realized in every case such that they bridge a space between the lateral wall 11 a or 11 b and the product pusher module 1 and a round rod 6 a or 6 b secured thereon extends inside a space between the lateral wall 11 a or 11 b and the product pusher module 1 and with part of its outer lateral surface/sliding surface 600 is located above the display area 10 of the product pusher module 1.

FIG. 3B shows a perspective view of another alternative variant for a retaining clip 62 for fastening a round rod 6 a or 6 b on a lateral wall 11 a or 11 b. In place of a fastening portion 621 which projects in the manner of a web, a second channel-like retaining portion 622 is provided here in addition to the retaining portion 620 provided for clipping-on the round rod 6 a or 6 b. Said second retaining portion 622 can be plugged (from below) into the lateral wall 11 a or 11 b such that a bottom edge of the respective lateral wall 11 a or 11 b is engaged around by the retaining portion 622. The retaining clip 62 can consequently be fitted simply and in a tool-free manner onto a lateral wall 11 a or 11 b by means of the retaining portion 622. Furthermore, the retaining clip 62 is realized such that it is able to be utilized for both the left-hand and the right-hand lateral wall 11 a or 11 b in order to retain a round rod 6 a or 6 b thereon.

FIG. 3C illustrates a further realization variant where two round rods 6 a, 6 b are retained on the module housing 12 of the product pusher module 1 in each case by means of at least one—preferably at least two—retaining clip(s) 62. Each round rod 6 a or 6 b is arranged in this connection on a longitudinal side of the module housing 12 and is clipped into a retaining portion 620 of the respective retaining clip 62 and is retained thereon in a positive locking manner. The retaining clips 62 are preferably arranged in a substantially symmetrical manner with respect to the longitudinal axis of the module housing 12. Consequently, the round rods 6 a and 6 b, which are arranged on both sides of the longitudinal axis, are secured by means of the retaining clips 62 at identical regions of the module housing 12, but on different longitudinal sides.

Each of the retaining clips 62 comprises a fastening portion 623 by means of which the respective retaining clip 62 is plugged into a side of the module housing 12. A fastening portion 623 can be developed in this connection in an analogous manner to a retaining portion 622 of a retaining clip 62 in FIG. 3B. In this way, a fastening of the retaining clip 62—with or without a round rod 6 a or 6 b already mounted thereon—can be effected as a result of the fastening portion 623 being plugged from below into the module housing 12 and into an edge web which projects downward thereon. As an alternative to this, the fastening portion 623 can be realized with two laterally projecting legs such that the fastening portion 623 is able to be plugged into a laterally projecting web of the module housing 12 transversely to the longitudinal direction in the manner of a clamp or bracket.

In principle, it can be provided, moreover, that a retaining clip 62 is realized such that it is able to be plugged selectively into a lateral wall 11 a, 11 b or the module housing 12.

Although not shown in the figures, a guide element, such as a round rod 6 a or 6 b, can be secured on a mounting strip L1, L2 or on both mounting strips L1 and L2 as an alternative to or in addition to the fastening shown on a lateral wall 11 a or 11 b. For example, retaining elements are attached or formed here on the ends of the respective guide element in an analogous manner to the retaining clips 111 and 112, by means of which a guide element is able to be clipped in each case onto a mounting strip L1 or L2.

Depending on the desired area of application, different types of feed devices V2 can consequently be mounted in a simple manner from a construction set with a single product pusher module 1 and product pushers 2 displaceably secured thereon and several pairs of different guide elements of the round rods 6 a and 6 b as well as two lateral walls 11 a and 11 b. In this case, it is possible to stock different sets of round rods which are dimensioned deviating from the round rods 6 a and 6 b, are produced from a different (plastics) material and/or are coated differently and/or comprise a different surface roughness.

As a result of the modular design shown, a feed device V2 can be adapted to different applications in a simple manner without tooling such that, without modifying the constant product pusher module 1, variously heavy and variously large objects which are arranged one behind another are able to be shifted in an automated manner with consistent quality and reliability in order to close gaps created in the stock automatically and where applicable to indicate product removals electronically, i.e. in particular acoustically and/or visually perceptibly.

With suitable retaining elements such as, for example, the retaining clips 62, 62.1 and 62.2 shown, guide elements, such as round rods 6 a or 6 b, can also be mounted and where applicable “retrofitted” in a simple manner onto commercially available product separators or lateral walls 11 a and 11 b.

FIG. 4 additionally shows an additional retaining element in the form of a double clip 7 in an enlarged scale. The axially symmetrical double clip 7 comprises two retaining portions 71 a, 71 b, which are connected together by means of a connecting web 70, each for one round rod 6 a or 6 b. A round rod 6 a or 6 b can consequently be clipped into a retaining portion 71 a or 71 b such that a round rod 6 a or 6 b is engaged around by the respective retaining portion 71 a or 71 b and is retained thereon in a positive locking manner.

Two round rods 6 a, 6 b can be arranged in a row side by side and connected together by means of the double clip 7. A pair of round rods 6 a, 6 b connected in such a manner is then positioned on one and the same (left or right) side of the feed module 1 and consequently positions the shifting path of the product feed 2. A larger sliding surface can be provided for the objects to be shifted as a result. In one realization variant, in each case two round rods 6 a, 6 b, which are connected together by means of a double clip 7 or several double clips 7, are provided for example on both sides of the product pusher module 1. The round rods 6 a, 6, in this case, are retained together in pairs and as well as on an adjacent lateral wall 11 a or 11 b and/or at least on one mounting strip L1, L2, preferably in each case by means of quick-release clip connections.

By means of several double clips 7, which are arranged one behind another along a longitudinal extension direction of a round rod 6 a or 6 b and are rotated by 180° with respect to one another, several rows of round rods 6 a, 6 b are also able to be connected together and retained together.

FIG. 5 shows a representation of a detail of a guide element 6′ for a further realization variant where the guide element 6′ is realized in the manner of a profile rail and additionally incorporates a holder for a lateral wall 11 of the feed device. The holder, in this case, is formed by a central retaining slot 61′ and two support portions 611 a′ and 611 b′ which adjoin thereto. The guide element 6′, in this case, can be clipped subsequently easily from below onto the lateral wall 11 with the retaining slot 61′. In the mounted state, a bottom edge of the lateral wall 11 is then consequently plugged into the retaining slot 61′ such that said bottom edge is enclosed between the two support portions 611 a′ and 611 b′. In this way, the support portions 611 a′ and 611 b′ prevent the lateral wall 11 from sagging in the case of lateral load. By means of fastening the guide element 6′ on one of the or both of the mounting strips L1, L2, unwanted lateral displacement of the lateral wall when the feed device is operating can also be prevented in a more effective manner.

The guide element 6′ with the holder 61′, 611 a′, 611 b′ is produced from a plastics material in such a manner that objects are able to slide well along the regions of the guide element 6′ which extend on both sides of the lateral wall 11 and consequently, in combination with objects which are to be shifted in a preferred manner by means of the feed device, such as, e.g., bottles, produces a smaller coefficient of sliding friction. In this case, the guide element 6′ is divided by means of the retaining slot 61′ into two sliding regions 6 a′ and 6 b′ which are associated in each case with a feed device and are able to form part of a display area on one side of the lateral wall. In this case, each sliding region 6 a′ and 6 b′ includes in the present case two sliding surfaces 600′ which are in each case separated from one another by an outer U-shaped longitudinal slot 61 a′ or 61 b′. In this case, a narrow outer sliding surface 600′ is formed in each case by the top surface of an edge portion 612 a′ or 612 b′ and a sliding surface 600′ which is wider by a multiple is formed by a top surface of a support portion 611 a′ or 611 b′. The contact surface for the objects to be shifted and consequently the friction is minimized as a result of the recess in a sliding region 6 a′ or 6 b′ in the form of a longitudinal slot 61 a′ or 61 b′.

In one exemplary embodiment, an elongated sliding path is provided in each case in a sliding region 6 a′ and 6 b′ in place of a continuous longitudinal slot 61 a′ or 61 b′. In this way, the entire guide element 6′ does not have to be produced from a material with good sliding characteristics, but rather a region with improved sliding characteristics is simply realized thereon in a targeted manner. Such a sliding path can then also comprise a convexly arched sliding surface (cf. FIGS. 7A and 7B also in this respect).

FIG. 6 additionally shows a representation of a detail of a support component in the form of a profile rail 6″ for the lateral wall 11 of a further realization variant where guide elements in the form of round rods 6 a and 6 b are subsequently mounted onto the profile rail 6″. In this case, the profile rail 6″ is developed in a substantially identical manner to the guide element 6′ in FIG. 5, there not being provided, however, any sliding surfaces on the top surfaces of the support and end portions 611 a′, 611 b′; 612 a′, 612 b′.

The profile rail 6″ initially serves here only for supporting the lateral wall 11 against lateral sagging and, where applicable, additionally prevents the lateral wall 11 from shifting sideways in an unwanted manner whilst the feed device is operating when the profile rail 6″ is also fastened at the end face to the mounting strips L1 and L2. The longitudinal slot 61 a′ or 61 b′ provided in each case serves here then as a pre-defined fastening point at which a separate guide element, such as, e.g., a round rod 6 a or 6 b, is able to be secured in order to retrofit the profile rail 6″ subsequently with a sliding surface 600. In this connection, it can be provided that on one side of the lateral wall when the feed device is mounted as intended, the top surfaces of the support and edge portions 611 a′ and 612 a′ or 611 b′ and 612 b′ are located below a display area along which objects are to be shifted. If, however, a guide element, such as a round rod 6 a or 6 b, is fastened as intended to the profile rail 6″, the sliding surface 600 thereof is located at the level of the original display area or above same such that the sliding surface 600 defines at least part of the display area for the objects to be shifted at all times. Without a guide element mounted thereon, in said realization variant the products or product packagings to be shifted consequently do not contact the profile rail 6″ and do not rest in particular on the top surfaces of the support and edge portions 611 a′ and 612 a′ or 611 b′ and 612 b′. Only by mounting at least one additional guide element 6 a or 6 b onto the profile rail 6″ is part of the display area provided by same such that products or product packagings to be shifted can be arranged as intended thereon.

The connection of a guide element, such as, e.g., the round rods 6 a, 6 b shown as an example in FIG. 6, can be effected in this case once again by means of at least one separately produced retaining element which is plugged into the respective guide element as well as into the profile rail 6″. As an alternative to this or in addition to it, a retaining element, preferably with a positive locking region, can be formed on the guide element itself, by means of which retaining element the guide element is connected in a positive locking and/or friction locking manner to the profile rail 6″. For example, a radially projecting spigot, which is pluggable into the longitudinal slot 61 a′ or 61 b′ and is then retained therein in a positive locking manner, can be realized on the lateral surface of a round bar 6 a or 6 b.

In a further development of the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 5 and 6, FIGS. 7A-7B, 8A-8B and 9A-9B show a sectioned view and a representation of a detail of in each case two further variants of a guide element 6* with a holder 61′, 611 a′, 611 b′ for a lateral wall in different widths.

In the variants of FIGS. 7A-7B, sliding surfaces 601* are formed on both sides of the retaining slot 61′ by a convexly arched region of the support portion 611 a′ or 611 b′.

In the variants of FIGS. 8A-8B, sliding surfaces 602* are in turn formed in each case by oppositely situated edges 64.1* and 64.2*, which are present on the top surface, of a concavely arched portion. The two oppositely situated edges 64.1* and 64.2*, in this case, are separated spatially from one another by a channel or valley 61*.

Analogously to the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 6, the concavely arched portion of FIGS. 8A-8B with the two edges 64.1* and 64.2* exposed toward the top surface could be realized as a separate component as an alternative and then be mounted as a guide element onto a profile rail 6″.

On a guide element 6* of FIGS. 8A-8B as well as an identically realized profile rail 6″, positive locking regions can also be defined by means of the recesses in the form of the channel or valley 61* (analogous to the longitudinal slot 61 a′ or 61 b′). A separate guide element is fastenable to said positive locking regions. For example, a round rod 6 a or 6 b can be clipped into the valleys 61*.

In the variants in FIGS. 9A-9B, the guide element 6* forms several rows of teeth 63* located side by side and one behind another, the tips of which form a sliding surface 603* or at least a portion thereof. In place of single teeth 63* arranged one behind another, just one elongated projection, which is triangular in cross section and/or tapers to a point, could also be provided. Consequently, in one exemplary embodiment a sliding surface 603* could be formed on a longitudinal side of the retaining slot 61′ by a single elongated projection which is triangular in cross section or several such projections which are located side by side.

An advantage in the case of the realization variants in FIGS. 8A-8B and 9A-9B is that a product or product packaging is only able to come into contact with the sliding surfaces 602* and 603* defined here in a linear or punctiform manner or can only abut in a linear or punctiform manner against them. As a result, the friction forces which counter shifting a product or product packaging resting thereon are further reduced.

In particular in the case of the exemplary embodiments in FIGS. 2, 5, 6, 7A-7B, 8A-8B and 9A-9B, it is obviously not compulsory that a driven feed unit is provided in the form of a product pusher for the automatic shifting of objects in the direction of a removal region E. Rather, exemplary embodiments are also possible where the automatic shifting is effected simply with the assistance of gravitational force and is exclusively gravity-driven. In this connection, it is ensured in particular by the use of the respective guide element 6 a, 6 b; 6′ or 6* and by the inclination of the display area with respect to the horizontal that objects are shifted automatically in the direction of the removal region E as soon as a frontmost object of a row is removed at the removal region E. 

1. A feed device for the automatic shifting of objects, wherein the automatic shifting of objects is effected assisted by the force of gravity and/or for this purpose the feed device includes a driven feed unit in order to shift several objects, which are arranged one behind another on a display area of the feed device, along a guide track in the direction of a removal region where an object is able to be removed as intended, further comprising at least one separately produced guide element which is mounted on the already functional feed device and comprises an elongated sliding surface which extends substantially parallel to the guide track, defines at least part of the display area and along which the objects to be shifted are shiftable by the feed unit.
 2. The feed device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide element is realized in a rod-shaped manner, in particular as a sliding and/or round rod and/or the at least one sliding surface is realized in an elongated manner.
 3. The feed device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide element comprises at least two sliding surfaces which are separated from one another by at least one recess.
 4. The feed device for the automatic shifting of objects, wherein the automatic shifting of objects is effected assisted by the force of gravity and/or for this purpose the feed device includes a driven feed unit in order to shift several objects, which are arranged one behind another on a display area of the feed device, along a guide track in the direction of a removal region where an object is able to be removed as intended, further comprising at least one guide element, along which the objects to be shifted are shiftable and which comprises at least one elongated sliding surface which extends substantially parallel to the guide track and defines at least part of the display area, wherein the at least one sliding surface is arched in a convex manner and/or the at least one sliding surface is realized such that an object arranged as intended thereon is able to abut simply in a punctiform or linear manner against at least one portion of the sliding surface.
 5. The feed device as claimed in claim 4, wherein at least part of the sliding surface is defined by at least one projection which is tooth-shaped in cross section or by at least one projecting edge of the guide element in order to enable simply punctiform or linear contact with an object arranged as intended thereon.
 6. The feed device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide element is realized on a lateral wall of the feed device or comprises a holder for supporting a lateral wall of the feed device.
 7. The feed device as claimed in claim 6, wherein a holder of the guide element comprises a retaining slot in which the lateral wall is held and is supported transversely to its longitudinal extension by means of at least one support portion of the holder which adjoins the retaining slot.
 8. The feed device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide element is plugged into the feed device and/or is mounted in a tool-free manner.
 9. The feed device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the guide element realizes at least one retaining element and/or at least one separate retaining element is provided into which the guide element is plugged, and the guide element is held on a component of the feed device by means of the at least one retaining element.
 10. The feed device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the separate retaining element is plugged into a component of the already functional feed device in order to hold the subsequently mounted guide element thereon.
 11. The feed device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the guide element is held by means of the retaining element on a lateral wall of the feed device and/or on a support component for supporting a lateral wall of the feed device and/or on a housing of the feed device.
 12. The feed device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least two guide elements are provided, between which a path of movement for the feed unit extends, and/or at least two guide elements are provided on one and the same side next to a path of movement for the feed unit.
 13. The feed device as claimed in claim 12, wherein at least two elongated guide elements are arranged in rows end to end on one and the same side next to a path of movement and/or the guide elements which are provided on one and the same side of the path of movement are connected together.
 14. The feed device as claimed in claim 13, wherein at least one additional retaining element is provided to connect the at least two guide elements.
 15. The feed device as claimed in claim 14, wherein a guide element is held on the additional retaining element by means of a clip connection.
 16. A construction set for the mounting of a feed device, wherein the feed device is provided for the automatic shifting of objects and the automatic shifting of objects is effected assisted by the force of gravity and/or for this purpose the feed device includes a driven feed unit in order to shift several objects, which are arranged one behind another on a display area of the feed device, along a guide track in the direction of a removal region where an object is able to be removed as intended, wherein the construction set includes at least the following: a pre-assembled feed module which defines the guide track and/or comprises the driven feed unit, and at least one separately produced guide element which is combinable with the feed module in such a manner that in a selective manner a feed device without a guide element or a feed device with a guide element is mountable, wherein the guide element comprises at least one elongated sliding surface which extends substantially parallel to the guide track and defines at least part of the display area and the objects to be shifted are shiftable by the feed unit along the sliding surface of the guide element when the guide element is combined with the feed module.
 17. The construction set as claimed in claim 16, wherein the feed module comprises a display area against which, in the case of a feed device without a guide element, objects abut and are slidingly shiftable, and the construction set with the at least one guide element is realized in such a manner that in the case of a feed device with a guide element the objects abut against the guide element and are slidingly shiftable thereon.
 18. The construction set as claimed in claim 16, wherein the construction set additionally comprises at least one lateral wall, by means of which a row of objects arranged on the display area is bordered along the guide track.
 19. The construction set as claimed in claim 18, wherein the guide element is mountable on the lateral wall.
 20. The construction set as claimed in claim 16, wherein the guide element is mountable on a housing of the feed module.
 21. The construction set as claimed in claim 16, wherein the construction set comprises at least one mounting strip on which several feed devices are securable next to one another, and in each case at least part of the components of the construction set for one single feed device is pluggable into the mounting strip.
 22. A method for mounting a feed device, wherein the feed device is provided for the automatic shifting of objects and the automatic shifting of objects is effected assisted by the force of gravity and/or for this purpose the feed device includes a driven feed unit in order to shift several objects, which are arranged one behind another on a display area of the feed device, along a guide track in the direction of a removal region where an object is able to be removed as intended, wherein a pre-assembled feed module, which defines the guide track and/or comprises the driven feed unit, and at least one separately produced guide element with at least one elongated sliding surface which extends substantially parallel to the guide track are provided and optionally a feed device without a guide element is mounted or a feed device with a guide element is mounted by the guide element being combined with the feed module, wherein the guide element then defines part of the display area in the feed device and the objects to be shifted are shiftable along the sliding surface of the guide element. 